WHAT REPENTANCE IS NOT

REPENTANCE IS NOT JUST A CHANGE OF MIND

·0 Charles Spurgeon – “Just now some professedly Christian teachers are
misleading many by saying that ‘repentance is only a change of mind.’ It is
true that the original word does convey the idea of a change of mind; but the
whole teaching of Scripture concerning the repentance which is not to be repented
of is that it is a much more radical and complete change than is implied by our
common phrase about changing one’s mind. The repentance that does not
include sincere sorrow for sin is not the saving grace that is wrought by the
Holy Spirit. God-given repentance makes men grieve in their inmost souls
over the sin they have committed, and works in them a gracious hatred of
evil in every shape and form. We cannot find a better definition of repentance
than the one many of us learned at our mother’s knee: ‘Repentance is to
leave the sin we loved before, and show that we in earnest grieve by doing so
no more’” (Charles Haddon Spurgeon, “The Royal Saviour,” Metropolitan
Tabernacle, London, England, Feb. 1, 1872).
[Spurgeon remains highly influential among Christians of different denominations,
among whom he is known as the "Prince of Preachers". In his lifetime, Spurgeon
preached to around 10,000,000 people,[1] often up to 10 times each week at different
places. Spurgeon was the pastor of the congregation of the New Park Street Chapel (later
the Metropolitan Tabernacle) in London for 38 years]

[from David Cloud]

REPENTANCE IS NOT MERE CHANGING ONE’S MIND

Another man who has widely influenced the doctrine of repentance held by independent
Baptists is the late Curtis Hutson, former editor of the Sword of the Lord. His 1986
booklet “Repentance: What Does the Bible Teach?” has been distributed widely. Hutson
boldly denied that repentance means to turn from sin (p. 4). He denied that repentance is
sorrow for sin (p. 8). He even denied that repentance means “a change of mind that leads
to a change of action” (p. 16). He claimed that repentance simply is “to change one’s
mind” and that it did not necessarily result in a change of life. In an attempt to build his
doctrine of repentance, Curtis Hutson quoted Scripture that appears to support his
position but he ignored the Scriptures that plainly denounce his position. He misquoted
the writings of men like his predecessor John R. Rice. He also mixed in a heavy dose of
human reasoning. For example, he stated that repentance couldn’t mean to turn from sin
because man cannot turn from all sin. That is a smokescreen, because no one has defined
repentance as turning from all sin. The historic definition of repentance, as it applies to
salvation, is a change of mind toward God and sin that results in a change of life.
Repentance is not turning from all sin in the sense of some sort of sinless perfection; it is
a change of mind toward sin so that the sinner no longer intends to walk in rebellion
against God. Dr. Hutson also reasoned that to say repentance involves turning from sin is
a works salvation. That is nonsense. The Thessalonians turned from the sin of idolatry (1
Thess. 1:9). Obviously, that does not mean they thought that their works had a part in
their salvation. The fact that God requires that we turn from sin does not mean that
salvation is by works. We know that the works are the fruit of genuine salvation, not the
cause of it. Repentance, defined as turning to God from sin, is not a works salvation, as
Dr. Hutson falsely claimed. It is the sinner’s obedient response to the Holy Spirit’s
conviction (John 16:8). Dr. Hutson’s entire line of reasoning about repentance was
unscriptural.

Hutson even carried his false doctrine of repentance so far that he modified the 1989
edition of “Soul-Stirring Songs and Hymns,” which is the hymnal published by the
Sword of the Lord. Under the direction of Pastor Tom Stastny the members of Beaver
Valley Baptist Church of Montrose, British Columbia, went through the hymnal and
documented many changes. In an open letter to Independent Baptists of Canada dated
April 1, 2000, Pastor Stastny wrote: “Several of the changes center around the doctrine of
repentance i.e. #245 (The Old Account Was Settled”), #288 (“I Am Resolved”), #318
(“Give Me Thy Heart”), #444 (“Almost Persuaded”). The 1989 version greatly weakens
this doctrine in its overall message.” Following are the changes that were made to these
four hymns:

“The Old Account Was Settled”

4th verse -- “O sinner seek the Lord, repent of all your sin, For thus He hath commanded
if” CHANGED TO “O sinner, trust the Lord, be cleansed of all your sin, For thus He hath
provided for.”

“I Am Resolved”
4th verse DELETED (“I am resolved to enter the Kingdom, leaving the paths of sin...”)

“Give Me Thy Heart”

2nd verse -- “turn now from sin and from evil depart” CHANGED TO “trust in me only,
I’ll never depart.”

“Almost”
1st and 2nd verses DELETED -- “Almost I trusted in Jesus, Almost I turned from my sin;
Almost I yielded completely to the sweet striving within.” “Almost I said, ‘Jesus, save
me.’ Almost submitted my will; Almost persuaded to serve Him, but I rejected Him still.”

In a letter to Pastor Statsny dated March 31, 2000, Shelton Smith promised that the
Sword would publish a new edition of the hymnal that would “use the original editions”
of the hymns. As of 2007 this has not been done, and the changes themselves in the 1989
edition under Hutson’s administration speak for themselves.
REPENTANCE IS NOT MERELY CHANGING FROM UNBELIEF TO BELIEF

The late Pastor Jack Hyles, First Baptist Church, Hammond, Indiana, who was an
influential independent Baptist preacher, defines repentance to mean turning from
unbelief to belief. He stated this in his 1993 book, The Enemies of Soul Winning. One
chapter is titled “Misunderstood Repentance: An Enemy of Soul Winning.” He builds his
doctrine of repentance largely on human reasoning: since unbelief is the only sin that
sends men to Hell (so he claimed), unbelief is the only sin that must be repented of. That
sounds reasonable, but it is contrary to the clear example and teaching of the Word of
God. Biblical repentance as preached by John the Baptist, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the
Apostles, involved a change of mind TOWARD GOD AND SIN. Note the following
summary of Paul’s gospel message: “But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at
Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they
should repent and turn to God, and DO WORKS MEET FOR REPENTANCE” (Acts
26:20). The gospel message preached by Peter on the day of Pentecost and by Paul after
Pentecost required repentance and defined that as a turning to God from evil works.
Biblical repentance is a change of mind toward God and sin that results in a change of
life. To say that it has nothing to do with one’s attitude toward sin is to throw away 19
centuries of Christian preaching.

3. Repentance Is Not Faith toward Jesus.

Repent AND Believe
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith
toward our Lord Jesus Christ. – Acts 20:21
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not
laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God –
Hebrews 6:1
[from David Cloud]
REPENTANCE IS NOT MERELY THE SAME AS BELIEVING

Dr. Dwight Pentecost is among those who define repentance as merely believing in
Christ. “Repentance is not a prerequisite to salvation; for if repentance is required,
salvation is based, at least in part on works. … We would suggest to you from the Word
of God that repentance is included in believing. It is not a separate act which conditions
salvation, but rather it is included in the act of believing” (Pentecost, Things Which
Become Sound Doctrine, 1965, pp. 70, 71). This sounds correct to many people, but it is
wrong. First, as to repentance being a works salvation, that is nonsense. To say that
repentance results in works is not the same as saying that repentance is works. Saving
faith also produces works, but this is not to say that saving faith is works. Repentance, in
fact, is so far from a work that it is a gift of God’s grace. “When they heard these things,
they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles
granted repentance unto life” (Acts 11:18).

I will reply to the idea that repentance is the same as faith by asking the following
questions:

(1) If repentance and faith are the same, why does the Bible make such a plain distinction
between them? “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward
God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). In reality, repentance and
faith are two different actions though they are intimately connected and cannot
necessarily be separated in time. Repentance is acknowledging one’s sin and rebellion
against God and changing one’s mind about sinning against God. Faith is trusting the
finished work of Christ for forgiveness. Repentance and faith are the two aspects of
man’s response to God’s offer of salvation.

(2) If repentance and faith are the same, why did all of the New Testament preachers
proclaim repentance? Many arguments have been given to justify not preaching
repentance, but the bottom line is that the Bible preachers proclaimed repentance. If
repentance is totally wrapped up in believing, why did the Lord Jesus Christ preach
“except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3)? Why did Peter preach,
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted” (Acts 3:19)? Why did Paul preach, “God ... now
commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30)? Or, “[men] should repent and
turn to God, and do works meet for repentance” (Acts 26:20)?

(3) If repentance and faith are the same, why did the Lord Jesus Christ say that
repentance is a part of the Great Commission? “And that repentance and remission of sins
should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47).
The answer is that repentance is to be preached, and faith is to be preached. While these
doctrines are intimately connected, they are not the same. Biblical salvation involves
both: “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). That
is what the Lord’s Apostles preached, and they are our only infallible guides. Those who
claim that repentance does not have to be preached or that it is exactly the same as faith
are denying the plain teaching of the Word of God.

REPENTANCE IS NOT MERE HUMAN REFORMATION

Men have the ability to reform their own lives in some sense. It is not uncommon for men
who have gotten into trouble to come to their senses and to change their ways. Drunkards
have stopped drinking; wife beaters have ceased from their violence; thieves have
become honest citizens; harlots have turned from a life of infamy. This in itself is not
biblical repentance.

First of all, reformation is man-centered and this-world-centered; whereas repentance is

God-centered and eternity-centered. The man who merely reforms has his eyes on the
people he has offended and the consequences of his actions in his present life. The
gospel, on the other hand, calls for “repentance toward God…” (Acts 20:21). The
Prodigal Son’s repentance was demonstrated by his change of attitude toward God as
well as toward his father. “I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father,
I HAVE SINNED AGAINST HEAVEN, and before thee” (Luke 15:18).

Furthermore, reformation is problem-centered, whereas repentance is sin-centered. The

man who reforms his life looks upon his actions as problems and faults, but not as wicked
sin against a holy God. Those who repent, on the other hand, confess that they have
SINNED against God. They do not soft-peddle their sin. This is why it is crucial that
people be taught plainly what sin is from the Bible. To tell people that they have sinned is
not enough, because the sinner does not naturally think of himself as truly evil. He will
admit that he has faults, problems, weaknesses, lack of self-esteem, etc., but this is not
the same as admitting that he is a wicked and undone sinner before God.

REPENTANCE IS NOT PENANCE

Many Catholic Bibles translate “repentance” as “do penance,” according to Catholic

theology that replaces biblical repentance with a sacramental duty. Penance is a Catholic
sacrament whereby sins “done after baptism” are absolved by the priest upon the
confession and good deeds of the penitent. The four parts of penance are confession,
contrition, absolution, and satisfaction. The satisfaction refers to various duties prescribed
by the priest, such as praying the Rosary. Satisfaction is defined by the authoritative
Addis and Arnold Catholic Dictionary as “a payment of the temporal punishment due to
sin through works which are good and penal and are imposed by the confessor.”

This is not biblical repentance. Sinners are not commanded to go to priests for
forgiveness. They are not told to confess their sins to a priest or to do good works with
the hope that their sins will thereby be forgiven. All of the elements of Catholic penance
are unscriptural.

REPENTANCE IS NOT MERE REMORSE FOR WRONG ACTIONS

The Bible tells us that men can be remorseful about their actions without exercising
genuine repentance unto salvation. This is described as the “sorrow of the world” in 2
Cor. 7:10. There are key examples of this in the Old and the New Testaments. King Saul
is the prime Old Testament example. He was sorry that he got caught in various sinful
acts, but he did not demonstrate repentance because his actions did not change (1 Sam.
15:24; 24:17; 26:21). Judas is the fearful New Testament example of a man who was
remorseful but did not repent toward God (Matt. 27:3-4). Like reformation, remorse is
man-centered rather than God-centered. Those who repent change their mind about their
relationship with God and this results in a change in the way they live. Judas regretted his
actions, but he did not turn to God.

REPENTANCE IS NOT MERE CONFESSION OF OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SIN

Repentance is also not mere acknowledgement of sin. Pharaoh did this, but he did not
repent toward God and his actions did not change (Exodus 9:27). While working in a
county jail ministry for several years, I saw many men and women who acknowledged
that they had sinned, but most of those did not exercise repentance toward God and faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ.

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1. Repentance Is Not the Fruits.
Repent AND Bear Fruit
Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within
yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these
stones to raise up children unto Abraham. – Luke 3:8
There will be fruit in someone's life to evidence that they have truly repented.
"[9] Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for
ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
[10] For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the
sorrow of the world worketh death.
[11] For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness
it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear,
yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have
approved yourselves to be clear in this matter." - II Corinthians 7:9-11
"The happy fruits and consequences of true repentance are mentioned (v. 11); and
those fruits that are meet for repentance are the best evidences of it. Where the heart
is changed, the life and actions will be changed too. The Corinthians made it evident
that their sorrow was a godly sorrow, and such as wrought repentance, because it
wrought in them great carefulness about their souls, and to avoid sin, and please
God; it wrought also a clearing of themselves, not by insisting upon their own
justification before God, especially while they persisted in their sin, but by endeavours
to put away the accursed thing, and so free themselves from the just imputation of
approving the evil that had been done. It wrought indignation at sin, at themselves, at
the tempter and his instruments; it wrought fear, a fear of reverence, a fear of
watchfulness, and a fear of distrust, not a distrust of God, but of themselves; an awful
fear of God, a cautious fear of sin, and a jealous fear of themselves. It wrought
vehement desires after a thorough reformation of what had been amiss, and of
reconciliation with God whom they had offended. It wrought zeal, a mixture of love
and anger, a zeal for duty, and against sin. It wrought, lastly, revenge against sin and
their own folly, by endeavours to make all due satisfaction for injuries that might be
done thereby. And thus in all things had they approved themselves to be clear in that
matter. Not that they were innocent, but that they were penitent, and therefore clear of
guilt before God, who would pardon and not punish them; and they ought no longer to be
reproved, much less to be reproached, by men, for what they had truly repented of." -
Matthew Henry
2. Repentance Is Not the Conversion.
Repent AND Be Converted
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the
times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord – Acts 3:19
3. Repentance Is Not Doing Good Works.
Repent AND Do Good Works
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or
else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place,
except thou repent. – Revelation 2:5
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WHAT CAUSES PEOPLE TO REPENT?
God’s Goodness Leads People to Repent
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not
knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? – Romans 2:4
"This is a great inducement to us to repent. There is nothing like the consideration of
divine grace to break the heart, both for sin and from sin. That is evangelical
repentance, that flows from a sight of Christ, from a sense of his love, and the hopes
of pardon and forgiveness through him. Kindness is conquering; abused kindness,
humbling and melting. What a wretch was I to sin against such grace, against the law and
love of such a kingdom!" - Matthew Henry

Godly Sorrow Leads People to Repent

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow
of the world worketh death. – 2 Corinthians 7:10
"Observe here,1. The antecedent of true repentance is godly sorrow; this worketh
repentance. It is not repentance itself, but it is a good preparative to repentance, and
in some sense the cause that produces repentance. The offender had great sorrow, he
was in danger of being swallowed up with overmuch sorrow; and the society was greatly
sorrowful which before was puffed up: and this sorrow of theirs was after a godly
manner, or according to God (as it is in the original), that is, it was according to the will
of God, tended to the glory of God, and was wrought by the Spirit of God. It was a godly
sorrow, because a sorrow for sin, as an offence against God, an instance of ingratitude,
and a forfeiture of God’s favour. There is a great difference between this sorrow of a
godly sort and the sorrow of this world. Godly sorrow produces repentance and
reformation, and will end in salvation; but worldly sorrow worketh death. The
sorrows of worldly men for worldly things will bring down gray hairs the sooner to the
grave, and such a sorrow even for sin as Judas had will have fatal consequences, as his
had, which wrought death." - Matthew Henry
"3. Real penitence; sorrow or deep contrition for sin, as an offense and dishonor to God, a
violation of his holy law, and the basest ingratitude towards a Being of infinite
benevolence. This is called evangelical repentance, and is accompanied and followed by
amendment of life." - 1828 Webster's Dictionary
The dictionary definition says the type of sorrow is "deep contrition for sin". Let's see
what the Bible has to say about being "contrite":
"[18] The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and SAVETH such as be
of a CONTRITE spirit." - Psalms 34:18

"[17] The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a CONTRITE heart, O
God, thou wilt not despise." - Psalms 51:17
The Preaching of the Gospel Leads People to Repent
"[36] Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same
Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
[37] Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter
and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
[38] Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
[39] For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as
many as the Lord our God shall call.
[40] And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from
this untoward generation.
[41] Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were
added unto them about three thousand souls.
[42] And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in
breaking of bread, and in prayers." - Acts 2:36-42

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What Are Good Works?
Good Works are what follow salvation
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk
in them.
– Ephesians 2:8-10
So God ordained that those saved by grace through faith should walk in good works.
Good works do not save us; but God did ordain us to walk in good works.
---
How can we give “all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:20-21, 27) and refuse to tell
people to repent? If we don’t tell people to repent, we would be disobeying Christ,
because He said that “all men everywhere” must repent (Acts 17:30). And Jesus said
before He ascended into heaven that “repentance and remission of sins should be
preached in his name among all nations” (Luke 24:46-47).
This is not a work for salvation. No one can “boast” that his heart was changed by
God. Repentance, an act on the heart, accompanies faith and is no more a work than
faith itself is.
So we preach “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ”
(Acts 20:21).